The Album Reader Reviews:
Title: Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
Artist: Down
Label: Elektra Records
Release Date: 3/26/02		 There are currently 4 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 5
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    • Submitted by UGL (7/21/02):
    Nobody I know says that they really like this album. But I think most of my friends have not given it a chance. I think what does it is the opening track "Lysergic" with its doom/gloom intro to the song. Then they start skipping through the tracks hoping to hear "Stone the Crow" or "Lifer." This is a different album people! It also took me about three spins to reallly start to enjoy it. Now NOLA pales in comparision. It has not left my player since its release. This is just a Heavy Fuckin' Metal album of the year. Down's live performance was also outstanding, playing here in Houston to only about 1500. Check Out "GHOST OF THE MISSISIPPI"-- best Down song to date.
    5 out of 5

    Submitted by ViolentByDesign (4/13/02):
    Just an overall great sequel to the 1995 NOLA. It's louder, meaner, dirtier, and most importantly, much more metal sounding. Tracks like "Ghosts Along The Mississippi", "The Seed", and "New Orleans Is A Dying Whore" just demand respect from the listener, and they get it. But Down also wasn't afraid to experiment on this album with 3 ballads and a southern fried Lynard Skynard sounding "Stained Glass Cross" which truly plays out well in flying "colors". A true long player at 66 minutes, this baby will be in your cd player for quite some time as you listen to it over and over again.
    5 out of 5

    Submitted by Pat Mooney (4/10/02):
    It's been nearly 7 years since Down's masterpiece debut album NOLA and the boys are back with their sophomore effort Down II. I must say it kicks ass. The first single off the album (good choice by the way) "Beautifully Depressed" is an accurate representation of the band's evolution over the years. The most obvious difference between Down II and NOLA is the vocals. Phil hardly screams at all on this album, instead he sings his ASS OFF! Possibly the best vocal performance I've ever heard on any album (however I AM biased because Pantera is my fav band, and Phil my fav vocalist). But there are other differences, for one the production is much better than NOLA. The vocals are easier to hear. Jimmy Bower's drumming has also greatly improved (check out "There's Something On My Side"). The addition of Pantera's Rex Brown proves to be a good decision as he tears up the bass throughout the album. Though the album reeks of Black Sabbath influence it also, like many people have said including the band members, has such a Led Zepplin feel or "vibe" to it. Trust me, that's a good thing. Kirk and Pepper keep the band's bad ass riffs coming throughout the album (ex: "New Orleans Is A Dying Whore" and "The Seed") but Down also reveals their ability to mix in some great melodic stuff like "Learn From This Mistake" and the album closer "Landing On The Mountains of Meggido" (Phil plays guitar on this song). "Lies" showcases Phil's ability to sing over a BANJO! The Rock song (yes Rock not Metal) "Stained Glass Cross" is really different (check out the ORGAN) but incredibly catchy, surely the band's best shot at a HIT SINGLE. Though some may say Down is more reminicent of Black Sabbath I'm really begining to feel Pantera is the modern day Black Sabbath and Down (especially now with this record) is like the modern day Led Zepplin. If you liked NOLA you'll love Down II. Phil and Co. poured their souls into this album in a short 26 days, out in Louisiana, and I thank them for it. This album lacks NOTHING and it may be THE BEST album I EVER HEARD!
    5 out of 5

    Submitted by Phil Jones (4/8/02):
    I was introduced to Down a couple years ago when I heard "Stone The Crow" on my friend Chinn's computer. I am a huge Phil Anselmo fan and after getting that small taste of NOLA I went straight to the store and bought the album, and what a great album it was! A great tribute to the old-school styling of Sabbath and Zepplin with the newer flavor of Crowbar and C.O.C. Ever since then I wondered if Down would release a second album, and what it would sound like if they did.

    Fast forward to the end of last year (2001) and the news that Down had gotten back together, this time with Rex on bass, and had recorded a new album and was going to tour. My anticipation of the release was high and when the day came I went right out and made the purchase. If anyone wanted to make a comparison to NOLA, in my opinion Down II is better.

    The same production values are present and add to the old-school sound but the songs are much better. Every one is a great listen the first, second, third, and thousandth. The guitars sound great, and the tones mesh extremely well with Phil's vocals which are more mature sounding and further staple the fact of his great singing abilities. Down II throws in more musical elements then NOLA, a couple songs include organ-type keyboards that add to the "Drunk around the campfire" feel.

    Fans of old-school metal, blues based rock, sludge-core, and just great sounding music in general should go out and get Down II. Now that all of these songs have sunk into my brain I must prepare myself for the "live" experience. A great band that makes a great album should definitely make for a great tour.
    5 out of 5

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